Vol. 15 - No. 18
In This Week’s Edition
THE TOMS RIVER
TIMES
FOR BREAKING NEWS
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Activists Ask: “Is Civility Dead?” Community News! Don’t miss what’s happening in your town.
Pages 10-15.
Dr. Izzy’s Sound News Page 18.
Dear Pharmacist Page 19.
Inside The Law Page 20.
Classifieds Page 23.
Business Directory Page 24-25.
Fun Page Page 26.
Horoscope Page 31.
Wolfgang Puck Page 31.
—Photo by Bob Vosseller A mock funeral conducted by Brick resident Dave Williams noted the death of “civility” during a skit held on the afternoon of Aug. 24 on Washington St. Toms River. By Bob Vosseller TOMS RIVER - A pair of songwriters turned activists posed the question “is civility dead?” in a rather unique way. They brought their brand of street theatrics on Aug. 24 to the courtyard of the Ocean County Library in downtown Toms River. Dressed in black suits
and hats and taking the theme of a New Orleans-style jazz funeral as their inspiration, the duo joined 11 others for the 30-minute skit that involved a prop coffin, umbrellas and music. Brick resident Dave Williams, the co-founder of the group Forward March said the idea was not exactly to mourn the
loss of civility but to give it a very strong sendoff. Co-Founder Jim Tobias of Matawan said civility “should be a two-way street but I don’t think we are seeing that lately in politics. We should be able to have a debate or argument in politics about public policy but too often it gets heated.” Tobias said that he’d
like to see those who disagree on political issues “keep to the norms of mutual respect” and he pointed to Republicans and those of the extreme right as the main cause. Tobias added that Democrats were being too polite in some of their discourse. “It isn’t even a case of bringing a knife (Civility - See Page 4)
Shouting, Protests At Board Meeting Over Member’s “Hateful” Comments By Chris Lundy TOMS RIVER – Protestors demanded a board of education member resign due to Facebook posts that they called “hateful.” While the attorney for the board denounced the posts, he said this is not a First Amendment issue. The issue revolves around Daniel Leonard, the Beachwood representative on the Toms River Board of Education. He had been called out by an anti-bigotry group for Facebook posts they said were against people of the Muslim faith. Leonard has defended himself, stating that his comments were against Sharia Law, and not Muslims. A protest took place before the regular Board of
Education meeting, held at High School North. It was attended by just short of 100 people. There were also some who came out in support of him. Leonard has declined to run for re-election, and his term is up at the end of this year. That was not enough for protestors. “In the meantime, he’s making decisions that will affect all students in the district,” said one of the organizers of the event. Kelley Morris, representing NJ21 United, is a middle school teacher in Gloucester Township. She said since Leonard’s posts have spoken out against Muslims, women, and other groups, he shouldn’t represent a district. “He’s the exact opposite” of the lessons that teachers (Protest - See Page 14)
| August 31, 2019
State: Bias Crimes Up Among Youth
By Chris Lundy TRENTON – Social media. Political rhetoric. People not interacting with others who are different. All of these factors are creating a rise in bias crimes throughout the state, officials said, and half of the offenders were children. “We need to do a better job of confronting hate in young people,” Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal said. The number of bias incidents last year - 569 - was the highest reported since 2011. There were 549 reported in 2017. A new study by the New Jersey State Police and Division on Civil Rights noted an increase in bias crimes since 2016. To discuss this, the media was invited to a conference call with Grewal, Zakiya Smith Ellis, Secretary of Higher Education, Kelly LeDet, Assistant Commissioner, Department of Education, Col. Patrick Callahan, Superintendent of State Police, Jared Maples, Director of Homeland Security and Preparedness, and Rachel Wainer Apter, Director of the Division on Civil Rights. A bias offense was, for example, a violent crime, robbery/theft, desecration of sacred objects, harassment and threats. The officials saw these crimes as a foreshad(Bias - See Page 24)
Carol Wolfe, Founder Of Dottie’s House, Remembered
By Chris Lundy BRICK – Friends and relatives described Carol Wolfe as someone who forever improved the lives of local families…as well as her own family. Wolfe, 80, had received dozens of awards and recognitions, but she was best known as the founder of Dottie’s House and Homes Now. Dottie’s House, named after her own moth(Memorium - See Page 5)
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